How yoga helped me… lose weight and feel good again

Tash practicing yoga

This is the first post in a series of yoga stories from readers. Tell us how yoga changed your life and go in the draw to win a yoga prize package.

Submitted by Tash of Lower Hutt, winner of a Yoga Prize Package

At fourteen years old, I felt completely depressed, empty inside and lost in the world.

I was overweight and stuck in toxic friendships. I was at rock bottom.

I found yoga when I was browsing the TV listings (Yoga TV with Kris Mcintyre, Barbara Behal and Nils Vesk) and thought it might help me to lose weight.

As I kept at it, I began to feel moments of actually FEELING something. And even though at first it was difficult, both mentally and physically, the moments I had of happiness (even if they were just for a second), made me realise that this was something I needed to do.

Now, I am about fifteen to twenty kilograms lighter.

Yoga has given me strength and flexibility both in my body and in my life. I feel cheerful all of the time (even if I’m having a bad day).

During these past two years, I have learned more about myself than I have in my whole life. I have been changed physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

For me, yoga is not JUST twisting your body, or sitting in meditation, or deep breathing; it’s a way of being.

Yoga has truly saved my life.

Tell us how yoga changed your life and go in the draw to win a yoga prize package.

Recommend Yoga Reading from The Yoga Lunchbox

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Congratulations Tash, you’ve won a copy of Yoga: The Poetry of the Body by Rodney Yee.

A great book for starting a home practice, Rodney leads you through a series of short practices that each focus on a different aspect or theme, like grounding, or opening.

There are eight full yoga practices illustrated with 400 beautiful black-and-white photographs. The practices will also provide stimulating ideas for more experienced yoga practitioners.

The book also explores Rodney’s personal philosophy as he uses his own unique metaphors and imagery to evoke the essence and experience of yoga. It’s great just to pick up and read, it’s great to pick up and practice with.